We are David Medlicott and Yvonne Day Medlicott, living on the beautiful Kapiti Coast, New Zealand.
Each of us grew up on farms, so dogs of various breeds, including Labradors, have always been part of our lives.
The first 'real' pedigree Labrador Kouratahi Sunset Sam came into our lives
in 1981 and our world as we knew it, changed forever!
"Sam" (S. Eng, Aust, & N.Z.Ch. Ballyduff Marshall [Imp.U.K.] D. Ferntree Fancy Free [Imp.Aust.]) was a character in his own right and we all learned together as we started
in the breed shows and field trials.
A black bitch "Tessa" Kouratahi Tar Baby joined
us in 1981 and upon the arrival of our first litter in 1982 KAHILANI KENNELS was formed.
NOTABLE DOGS
After discovering chocolate Labradors, we returned from a trip to Australia and the Brisbane Royal Show in 1983 with a chocolate dog Aust. Ch. Tenarda Kuyal, "Ka" who lived with us for 18 months and introduced the chocolate gene into our bloodlines.
Saltmeadow Rugby at Kahilani (Imp.U.S.A.) "Rugga" - joined us in 1988 after sepending 9 months in quarantine kennels in England. His sire: Int./World/Fr. & Am.Ch.
Sandylands Rip Van Winkle and his dam: Am.Ch. Follytower Blackberry WC JH were both exported to the USA from two of the topmost kennels in Great Britain. Rugga was too tall
for breed shows but exhibited superb working ability in the field. His legacy to us is progeny
of similar abilities, tremendous brainpower and total soundness! (As this is written in January 2001, Rugga is still with us, rising 14 years of age.)
Needing a good dog for Rugga's daughters we sourced through the kindness of Mrs Margot Woolley of Follytower Kennels UK in 1994, NZ.Ch. Rocheby Sailing Along at Follytower (Imp.UK) - "Blake", bred by Mrs Marion Hopkinson of Rocheby Kennels UK. Sired by the ledgendary Ch. Kupros Master Mariner, Dam: Rocheby Shady Lady, Blake has proven to be our "Once in a lifetime dog" who is absolute quality, with a strong prepotency
that has shown in his many Show and Field Trial Champion progeny, both here in New Zealand and overseas. Blake won Best in Show at all three Labrador Club shows in 1994, never before done by the same dog since the shows began.
The latest import from the UK to join Kahilani Kennels in 1998 is "Sonny" - Suttonpark Playful Rocheby. Sired by Rocheby Navy Blue, Dam: Playtime at Rocheby, Sonny is
Blake's great-nephew and bred to Blake's daughters we are continuing our line of sound,
good-looking Labradors that work!
THIS IS THE AIM, AND ACHIEVEMENT OF KAHILANI KENNELS!
NOTABLE BITCHES
Ch. Amber Lass of Kahilani, (20-11-82 to 14-11-94) was from the very first Kahilani
litter. Sired by Kouratahi Sunset Sam, Dam: Kouratahi Tar Baby, ""Amber" was a very special favourite, the highlight of her Show career was being awarded the Bitch C.C. by Mrs Gwen Broadley, Sandylands UK - worth 10 Bests In Show, All-breeds, to us!
Ch. Belle Fiore of Kahilani, (3-11-83 to 15-7-96) S. Aust.Ch.Tenarda Kuyal, D. Kouratahi Tar Baby, "Belle" had a mind of her own but when she showed, she showed! She took the eye of
USA Judge, Mrs Nancy Martin at the 1990 Labrador Cluib Show, winning the bitch C.C. and
Reserve Best In Show, grey hairs and all!
"Hannah", Kahilani High Flier, sired by Rugga out of Belle in 1989, became my all-time favourite for 11 years, together with her dad they were ultimate "nearby dogs", always near
by! Hannah's main claim to fame was winning the Novice Retriever event at the NZ National
Field Trials on the Saturday of Labour weekend, October 1990, then Best of Breed at the Rotorua Championship Show on the Monday - this to us, is what it is all about!
THESE DAYS
These days we no longer compete at Field Trials and go to very few shows, preferring to leave that to the owners of the puppies we have bred. Our interest remains as strong however, and we
still breed two or three litters a year and Blake and Sonny stand at Stud here.
